Israeli attack on Beirut’s suburbs ‘blatant violation of international agreement�: President Aoun
Israeli warplanes carry out 8 airstrikes on southern suburbs, preceded by 7 warning strikes by Israeli drones
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun
ISTANBUL
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned Israeli airstrikes Thursday on Beirut’s southern suburbs on the eve of the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday, calling them a “blatant violation of an international agreement” and “conclusive evidence” of Israel’s rejection of regional peace.
Israeli warplanes carried out eight airstrikes on the suburbs in the fourth such attack since a Nov. 27, 2024 ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon.
The assault was preceded by seven warning strikes by Israeli drones, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA).
Later, two more strikes -- one from warplanes and another by drones -- targeted the town of Ain Qana in southern Lebanon’s Iqlim al-Tuffah region following an Israeli evacuation warning.
“This is a blatant violation of international norms, UN resolutions and human decency, especially on the eve of a sacred religious holiday,” Aoun said in remarks reported by NNA.
He stressed that the targeting of the southern suburbs is “irrefutable proof of the aggressor's rejection of stability, a resolution, and a just peace in the region.”
Aoun noted that “it is a message sent by the perpetrator of these atrocities (Israel) to the United States of America and its policies and initiatives, first and foremost through Beirut’s mailbox and the blood of its innocent civilians. Lebanon will never submit to this."
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also condemned the Israeli strikes, calling them a “systematic and deliberate assault on Lebanon’s security, stability and economy.”
He demanded that the international community “shoulder its responsibility to deter Israel and ensure its full withdrawal from Lebanese territories.”
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri echoed the condemnation, saying the “Israeli aggression targets not just one sect or region but all Lebanese and Arabs -- even in their holiest celebrations.”
Israeli forces have conducted near-daily attacks in southern Lebanon, claiming to target Hezbollah’s activities despite a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon that was reached last November. The truce ended months of cross-border warfare between Israel and the Hezbollah group, which escalated into a full-scale conflict in September.
Lebanese authorities have reported nearly 3,000 Israeli violations of the truce, including the deaths of at least 208 people and injuries to more than 500 since the agreement.
Under the ceasefire deal, Israel was supposed to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by Jan. 26, but the deadline was extended to Feb. 18 after Tel Aviv refused to comply.
Israel still maintains a military presence at five border outposts.
